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Tag: Drug abuse

  • Sultan laments trend of drug abuse among women, youths

    Sultan laments trend of drug abuse among women, youths

    Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, NSCIA, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III on Thursday lamented the growing trend of drug abuse among women and youths, challenging the Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON) to use its platform in reversing the trend.

    Speaking at the formal opening of SOGON’s 51st Annual National Conference in Sokoto, Abubakar who was the chairman of the occasion expressed serious concern over the ugly trend that is fast affecting public morality.

    However, the conference tagged: SOGON- Sokoto 2017 has as its theme: ” Maternal and Newborn Health in a Challenging Economy.”

    The revered monarch further advocated for the ban production, sale and consumption of such drugs that were being abused.

    According to him” the trend is quite disturbing. How can SOGON use its offices to check-mate it even cough syrups such that one cannot just go to any chemist to buy such drugs”, he stressed.

    According to the ‎royal father” We are going to table the issue during our meeting of traditional rulers. It will form part of the discussions to be held”, he said.

    Earlier, Professor Brian Adinna, National President of SOGON) said no nation can develop and perform better without ‎proper family planning and effective provision of health services for women and the newborn.

    He noted that maternal health was a sensitive aspect in health services delivery of any society.

    According to Adinma, the theme of the conference was well chosen in view of the contemporary experiences and economic down turn affecting the health sector in delivering services.

    He said women were more vulnerable to numerous health complications as cervical cancer, VVF among other related ailments.

    According to him” SOGON is out to effectively ensure the reduction of maternal mortality ‎to the barest minimum.”

    He further stated that the society has taken the responsibility to invite specialised partners from across the world to complement and update it’s focus towards addressing maternal mortality and child health challenges.

    Adinma however, commended Governor Tambuwal for his various health projects and support in the state.

    ” We are aware of your giant strides in the establishment of basic health institutions, the community health insurance initiative and structures.

    Similarly, he eulogised the unprecedented efforts of Governor Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe state for his unequalled compassion for maternal and child health.

    Highlights of the event were the ‎conferment of an honorary status membership on Governor Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe state and the unveiling of SOGON’s Journal by Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal with a donation of N10 million each by the government’s of the two states while commending the Yobe state government for the resilience and courage displayed in achieving so much within the health sector in the midts of Boko Haram insurgents persistent attacks on the state in the last 6 years.

    Also was the formal induction of 29 new members of SOGON at the well attended event witnessed by the Senate Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan, Deputy Governor of Sokoto state, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu, wife of Kebbi state Governor, Dr. Zainab Atiku Bagudu Shinkafi, Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Members of YOHA, Members HoRs, Emirs of Machina, Ngazargamu, ‎Jajere, Fika and Damaturu among other personalities that cut across all sectors including politicians especially from Yobe state.

  • Drug abuse: Unilag gets test kit for students

    Drug abuse: Unilag gets test kit for students

    In a bid to check drug abuse on campus, the University of Lagos has provided a drug test kit in its medical centre to examine students suspected to be on hard drugs.

    Prof. Rahaman Bello, outgoing Vice-Chancellor of the institution, confirmed this at a forum with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    Bello said that the initiative was necessary because drug abuse was on the increase in the nation’s tertiary institutions.

    “Drug abuse is a major problem for every institution, particularly, those in the cities. We have gone ahead in the University of Lagos to address it .

    “With the test kit, anyone who is suspected, his or her urine or blood depending on what we want to do, is collected for test.

    “The thing about drug is that when you take it, it will be in your blood for a longtime , so you cannot say , I did not use it once the test kit detects it.

    “Before, we start using the test kit , everyone we picked denied using drug since we could not find any evidence, ” he said.

    According to him, with the test kit, the university has been able to pin down victims, but granted them amnesty.

    He said that although the university’s regulation provided that any student found dealing with drug should be expelled, the management had to warn and rehabilitate them.

    “With the rehabilitation, the victims are given two or three semesters to ‘get clean’. By this, we mean they will visit the medical centre on monthly basis to get tested.

    “If after two or three visits, you are found clean, we will admit you back to the system, if not you are sent out.

    “This we do not to unnecessarily punish them, but to assist them to find a way to regain themselves,” he said.

    Bello said that about 100 students of the university was detected to be using hard drugs in 2016.

    “One hundred out of over 50,000 students,(35,000 – full-time and 15,000 to 17,000 -part-time) may seem insignificant, but to us, one person on drug is a problem to the university community .

    “If the individual is not stopped, he or she will influence so many others,” he said.

    On cultism, Bello said that it was a cankerworms in the education sector as examination malpractice and drug abuse.

    He said that cultism affected even secondary schools and sometimes primary schools.

    According to him, some institution in cities such as University of Lagos would need to intensity efforts to check cultism because they were located in infested communities.

    Bello said that the university’s management kept a watch on cult activities through intelligence network.

    “We get to know once anything comes up, and we nip it in the bud. We may not have completely wiped off cultism but it has been drastically reduced, ” he said.

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    Edited by Ijeoma Popoola

    Posted in General |

  • PLSG decries increase of women in child trafficking

    PLSG decries increase of women in child trafficking

    Plateau Government on Wednesday expressed concern over increasing number of women in drug abuse and child trafficking-related issues in the state.

    Mrs Rufina Gurumyen, the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social development, made this known at Stakeholders’ Validation workshop in Jos.

    The workshop was organised by the UN to review and adopt the Plateau State Action Plan (SAP) on UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325.

    The commissioner, represented by Mrs Hassana Ayika, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, said suspected drug abusers were main culprits in the trafficking of children.

    She also said that there was a spillover of terrorists activities, proliferation of firearms and armed robbery cases in the state, resulting in women and girls being kidnapped.

    Gurumyen said “these activities have adverse effects on women and children, who are one of the most vulnerable groups in the society.

    “If women were optimally engaged in peace building process, there may not be crisis in Plateau.”

    She, however, stressed the need to enlighten and engage women to identify early warning signs of crisis to forestall its occurrence.

    The commissioner said that emerging issues affecting women posed threat to the progress of the state.

    She added that “participants of this workshop should, therefore, ensure that the SAP on UNCSR incorporated women engagement in governance, their numbers increased and extended in traditional council in various communities in Plateau.

    “The plan should also provide enabling environment for women to actively participate in the forth coming local government polls in Plateau.”

    In her remarks, Ms Sewuese Surma, the UN Women Gender and Technical Advisor in Plateau, said the objective of the workshop was to ensure that women rights were protected and promoted in peace and security plan in Plateau.

    She said validation was necessary to capture and bridge the identified gaps and emerging security challenges in Plateau, which was not previously captured in the 2015 Plateau SAP.

    Mrs Fatima Suleiman, the Coordinator, Women Peace and Security Network (WPSN), stressed the need to establish desk officers for women and children in all organisations.

    UNSCR 1325 is basically on gender parity at all levels of decision making among, others.

    Read Also:

    Plateau: Not again!

  • Lagos kicks-off campaign on drug abuse in public schools

    Lagos kicks-off campaign on drug abuse in public schools

    The Lagos State government yesterday flagged-off a sensitization programme on drug abuse in public schools within its education districts across the state.

    At a press briefing by Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mrs Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf said the aim of the campaign was to curb illicit consumption of drug, cultism and other social vices among school children.

    She said: “Studies have shown that children with poor academic performance and inappropriate social behaviour at ages seven to nine, are more likely to be involved with substance abuse by age 14 or 15.

    “Meanwhile, drug abuse among school children may affect them to become major perpetrators of crime as a result of mental disorders as they grow up. On the part of our government, many efforts have been tailored towards curbing this illicit drug use, cultism and other social vices among school children.

    She urged parents to ensure proper monitoring of their children, noting that parental supervision of children has a critical role to play in ensuring moderation of their conduct.

    “The risk of becoming drug and other substance abusers become evident at different stages of a child’s life. For example, early risks such as out-of control aggressive behavior may be seen in a very young child. If not addressed through positive parental actions, this behaviour can lead to additional risk when the child enters school,” Akinbile-Yussuf added.

    A youth activist and consultant, Baye Adebowale urged the state government and other regulatory authorities to check exposure of children to lewd and vulgar music videos of Nigerian hip hop artistes.

  • Doctors sensitise pupils to drug abuse

    Doctors sensitise pupils to drug abuse

    Everyone knows Aba for its bustling commerce and industry, but Enyimba City also once had an ugly side known for hard drugs. At York Street, addicts and peddlers reigned supreme. Until the last four years, York was where women were raped, phones snatched, and handbags stolen even in broad daylight by drug addicts almost on a daily basis.

    Commendation must be given to the immediate past commander of The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the state, Mrs. Florence Ezionye who, with the support of then governor, Theodore Orji, ensured that the area was rid of the drug addicts.

    On a recent check by our reporter, it was found that the addicts were gradually coming back to the neighbourhoods especially around Milverton where various transportation companies are located.

    The activities of these addicts, The Nation learnt, are posing a great threat to business owners in the area. Shop owners lament the increasing rate of crime and other anti-social activities of the addicts.

    Apparently worried by the increasing rate at which Nigerian youths indulge in drugs, including trafficking, which has ruined so many lives and careers, landed so many in jail, and in some cases the grave, members of the Nigerian medical Association (NMA) Committee on Narcotics and Substance Abuse brought students of various secondary schools in Aba under a roof to educate them on the harmful effects of drug addiction.

    The essence of the seminar, according to the organisers, was to make the students agents of change and ambassadors of NMA and NDLEA.

    After the orientation from the NMA, the pupils are expected to take the message to their peers, families, churches, schools and any part of the society they find themselves.

    The message delivered by the state Commander of NDLEA, Akingbade Bamidele was clear: th agency will collaborate with anyone who will help to rid Aba and Abia Statre of illicit drugs and also rehabilitate people that are willing to give up their addiction.

    Bamidele said the agency will not relent in its war on illicit drugs in the state, adding that the dangers of illicit drugs cannot be overemphasised.

    Bamidele narrated how a boy whose name was withheld for security reasons reportedly sold his father’s two cars, a Lexus and a 4Runner worth N7.5 million for a paltry N350,000 in Umuahia, the state capital, due to his involvement in illicit drugs.

    Bamidele, who spoke on the topic: Illicit Drug and the Law, explained to the students that drug abuse can make someone to do things that he or she wouldn’t normally want to do.

    He said, “There’s a boy at Umuahia, that his father brought to us for counseling. He sold two vehicles: a Lexus and a Forerunner worth 7.5m for N350,000.

    “Do you know why? The reason is because he was involved in their illicit drug trafficking.”

    He further said that NDLEA will follow up the schools that participated in the programme using their special department in charge called Drug Demand Reduction Unit to make sure that the drug-free clubs are established, and also help in its sustenance.

    Speaking at the occasion, Dr. Mrs. Carol Iwuoha, National Chairman of the Committee of the Narcotics and Substance Abuse of the Nigerian Medical Association, said the choice of starting with Abia was not accidental but strategic to the campaign.

    Iwuoha said, “Basically first is that I practise here in Abia State. I’ve practised here for 20 years, so I’ve been here a while. Secondly, Abia is first on the list of the 36 states alphabetically and thirdly, there’s a lot of drug abuse in this state.

    “The main idea behind the choice of secondary schools is that these students at their age now can believe anything. They can be easily carried away by peers. If we win them now they can help us propagate the message and that’s why we are saying that they are going to establish drug free clubs in their schools where they are going to share their lessons and be drivers to saying no to drug abuse.

    “The desire to hold this programme came out from the passion for the burden of the NDLEA. They need a lot of collaborators and support from everybody. That’s why we brought the legislature here today so that they could give legislative backing to some of the fights we have to face in this process.

    “The reason we had this programme firstly is to support NDLEA. As a matter of fact, it’s part of the National Strategic Plan of the NMA to take up social responsibilities of reaching people with health problems and social problems around us.”

    Also speaking at the occasion, the Deputy Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Cosmos Ndukwe represented by his Special Assistant, Mr. Emmanuel Uchechukwu, advised the students to put the lectures into practice.

    “I want to add a voice to what we have learnt here today,” he said. “I want to say to us, as good students of Abia and Nigeria, to put all we have heard here into practice. It was a nice lecture. We must not end the message within ourselves. Carry on the message and save lives.”

    Dr. Nwachukwu Ugwunna, one of the guest lecturers, while speaking on the topic: Social Problems of Drug Abuse, said, “All drugs are dangerous, but some drugs are more dangerous than the others. Illicit drugs is said to kill an estimated 17,000 Americans annually. What does that tell you? Nobody is immunized against the dangers of drug abuse. Hard drugs make one socially backward and apathetic. Even those from more develop countries you may aim to copy due to communication exposure to their lifestyle, die of it. So why copy a path that leads to destruction? As adolescents, you’re in a crisis period and the only way to survive it is to avoid drugs in its entirety.

    Lekwauwa Ebenezer David, a student of Dority International Secondary School, Aba, commended the idea behind the project and acknowledged what he has learnt. “This lecture is good for us. I’m sure most of us don’t use drugs yet and this lecture will go a long way in ensuing that most of us don’t get into drugs as we heard, watched and seen the consequences of drug abuse and most importantly, how people are lured into the act of drug abuse. Personally to me, I’ve learnt what to teach my friends out there. I wish the lecture will come up every month with different persons participating not just us here.”

    Another student, Odimkpa Joshua, of Sacred Heart College Eziukwu, Aba expressed his feelings. “We are here to be enlightened about drug abuse. I can proudly say I’m fulfilled today because my head is updated with already existing, but new information to me. I picked interest in all the lectures, because they were educative. I can hardly pick a favourite. They said they will teach us more and I can’t wait to learn more and teach those around me.”

  • ‘Why rape is increase in sexual harassment, drug abuse’

    Two motivational speakers on yesterday blamed the increasing rate of sexual harassment and drug abuse among Nigerian students on the negative contents being transmitted through the social media and entertainment industry.

    They spoke in Lagos at one day seminar organised by the Society of Women Accountants of Nigeria (SWAN) held at the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Lagos.

    Mr Taiwo Akinlami, a Solicitor of the Supreme Court, said that the entertainment industry and social media had failed the society by promoting drugs, sex and violence through the display of nude pictures and smokers.

    He said that sexual harassment, especially in the education environment, was rampant because music, films, jokes and information which children were exposed to, were all adult-content.

    He said that sexual harassment did not exist in isolation as other issues were linked with its perpetration and could be from anyone; either lecturers, non-academic staff, co-students or even the vice-chancellor.

    Akinlami said that sexual harassment thrive in higher institutions because it has lost its dignity as a place of intellect.

    “No one can harass you when you are intellectually sound. But, instead of students of today to read books that will build their intellectual capability, they are on social media watching pornography and listening to music that did not inspire them in anyway.

    “The university is a reasoning environment and if you are not reasonable, you cannot succeed in it. Unfortunately, intellectual discourse is no more rooted in our university environment,” Akinlami said.

    According to him, a properly educated mind will not accept an act of tyranny, because to accept an act of tyranny is an act of intellectual self-disposition.

    “Once an individual’s level of intelligence is poor, he or she is prone to sexual harassment,” Akinlami said.

    He explained that sexual harassment had been criminalised in Nigeria, saying “students must note that no lecturer or anyone is justified to abuse or rape them”.

    Also, Mr Keji Hamilton, the President, Global Centre for Drug Eradication, described the mind as the most powerful weapon of a man.

    He said that if the inflow of what gets into the mind was not conditioned, it would be polluted.

    “What you hear is what you become, it is not possible to hear negative things continually and you do not change negatively,” he said.

    Hamilton urged students to use the social media positively and read education and motivational books regularly.

    He said that many things around us today encourage drugs, especially the hip-hop music which promotes drug, violence and sex.

    “I battled drug addiction for years; now I am a drug rehabilitation expert. I was a drug addict for 15 years.

    “I was Fela Anikulapo’s keyboardist for 15 years, so you can see the extent to which I was on the drug. When one start drugs initially, it’s for pleasure, but later, it turns to disease.

    “When some people watch the music video and see the singer smoking weeds and holding money, they think weeds and money go together,” he said.

    In her remarks, Alhaja Titiola Akibayo, the SWAN National President, said that the event was initiated by a former President of the Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN), Alhaji Alkali Kabiru.

     

     

  • Combating drug abuse through rehabilitation

    The decision of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to construct a modern rehabilitation centre at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja and other parts of the country is laudable. This development was made known at the grand finale event marking the 2017 International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking with the theme; Listen First; Listening to Children and Youths is the First Step to Help them Grow Healthy and Safe. The move though long delayed is highly commendable and stakeholders are encouraged to be part of this great initiative.

    Rehabilitation is the process of medical or psychotherapeutic treatment for drug dependency on alcohol, cocaine, heroin and any other substance. It is a priceless intervention mechanism for reducing the growing threat of substance abuse. Drug use disorder is an equal opportunity infection cutting across the entire gamut of our society regardless of sex, age, religion and status. The negative effect of drug abuse is gradually taking its toll on citizens particularly the youths who are more vulnerable due to various predisposing factors. These factors range from ignorance, peer pressure, unemployment, availability of drugs, use of drugs by parents and desire to experiment with drugs among others.

    The addictive nature of drugs affects the brain and ultimately compels users to keep taking drugs to repeat the euphoric sensation derived from drugs. In all, family members are left to bear the brunt and agony when loved ones drop out of school or work on account of substance abuse. Others incur huge medical bills as a result of the debilitating health conditions arising from drug abuse. Some also die in the process from an overdose, damaged body organs, accidents, and violence associated with drug abuse. When a breadwinner in the family becomes unemployed or starts to experience dwindling income due to drug abuse, other family members are inadvertently forced into economic hardship.

    Over the years, several metric tonnes of narcotic drugs have been confiscated and numerous drug traffickers convicted yet the problem of substance abuse appears to be growing in an alarming proportion. The Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd) recently raised alarm on the growing obsession of youths with the use of psychotropic drugs and unconventional substances like lizard excreta, fumes from pit latrine, gasoline, tippex, and rubber solution. Others are nail polish cleaner, local concoctions called goskolo and a natural stimulant plant called zakami. These are bizarre habits that must be addressed with every sense of commitment.

    The gloomy picture of inordinate desire and craze for substance use has left many perplexed. It is important to understand the reason behind the strong desire and compulsion to use drugs despite negative consequences. What must be done to prevent this ugly situation and encourage drug dependent persons to seek medical care? How can they be treated and empowered to quit drug use to be useful to themselves, family and society are some of the difficulties that the proposed rehabilitation centre seeks to address. One of the features is that the centre shall be located within the town but isolated from NDLEA command offices making it a complete health care facility.

    This will go a long way in encouraging patronage by members of the public who are ignorant and reluctant to seek professional help. Understanding drug use disorders as a health problem like a headache, diabetes and any other ailment will further eliminate the problem of stigmatisation. Patients are empowered to confront drug dependence and discontinue drug use. Rehabilitation covers medication for depression and other disorders, anti-drug counselling by experts and sharing of experiences with other drug dependent persons.

    There are different behavioural therapies to successfully assist patients in recovery. Cognitive behavioural therapy helps clients to recognise situations that make them to relapse and avoid them. Some clients after a successful rehabilitation do relapse due to lack of effective follow-up by family members. A multi-dimensional family therapy is designed to support patients in managing their success. Besides, motivational interviewing and incentives increase a patient’s motivation to embrace behavioural change and encourage abstinence from addictive substances. Another key strategy is peer support, where individuals in recovery use their experiences in helping others in speedy recuperation.

    Provision of employment and educational support is equally a component of rehabilitation. Counsellors and case managers assist clients in acquiring skills to be gainfully employed and establish their small scale businesses. Others are encouraged to study and acquire degrees certificates in fulfilment of their academic dreams through scholarship schemes.  These are enduring support services designed to positively engage clients towards self-sufficiency.

    Official statistics by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in the 2017 World Drug report states that availability and access to treatment for people with drug use disorders remain limited at the global level as one out of six people are provided with the requisite treatment each year.  The situation is not different in Nigeria. Expectedly, the proposed rehabilitation centre by NDLEA is a project that must be supported by every stakeholder in changing the narrative of drug control. Government at all levels, local and international donor agencies, civil society groups, individuals and much more are expected to play an active role.

    The Honourable Minister of the FCT, Muhammad Musa Bello has taken a noble step by providing a parcel of land for the construction of a pilot centre in Abuja. Stakeholders can support this public health project by building a rehabilitation centre. Individuals or groups can provide drugs, food, scholarship grants and funding to enable clients who have acquired skills establish their small scale businesses. Let’s give this lofty project the breath of life by contributing our quota individually and collectively towards making it a huge success.

     

    • Mitchell is Head Public Affairs of the NDLEA.

  • Fighting drug abuse, illicit trafficking requires joint effort, says UN Sec-Gen

    United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for a co-ordinated, balanced and comprehensive approach that leads to sustainable solutions in tackling drug abuse and illicit trafficking-related issues.

    He spoke at the commemoration of this year’s World Drug Day, the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

    Citing the multifaceted, collective response to the full range of issues related to drug abuse and illicit trafficking at last year’s UN General Assembly Special Session on the World Drug Problem (UNGASS) as a step in the right direction, he called for joint effort  by all to fight the negative drug trend.

    “UNGASS was a ground-breaking moment that provided a detailed and forward-looking blueprint for action. Together, we must honour the unanimous commitments made to reduce drug abuse, illicit trafficking and the harm that drugs cause, and to ensure that our approach promotes equality, human rights, sustainable development, and greater peace and security.

    “Despite the risks and challenges inherent in tackling this global problem, I hope and believe we are on the right path, and that together we can implement a coordinated, balanced and comprehensive approach that leads to sustainable solutions. This would be the best possible way to implement the UNGASS recommendations and to have a positive impact on the lives of millions of people around the world.”

    Meanwhile, according to UNODC Executive Director, Yury Fedotov, the findings of the newly released 2017 World Drug Report supports the implementation of the recommendations in the outcome document of the 2016 UNGA special session on drugs.

    “The report reinforces the importance of united action to address drug challenges, and confirms the emphasis of UNGASS on the need for science- and rights-based drug use prevention, treatment and care. Furthermore, too many people continue to lack access to pain medication, despite the international drug conventions’ emphasis on ensuring the availability of controlled substances for medical and scientific purposes, while preventing diversion and misuse,” he said.

  • Foundation takes drug abuse campaign to schools

    Foundation takes drug abuse campaign to schools

    Perhaps, many in her situation would have given up hope and easily indulged in social vices such as drug abuse and stealing in order to eke out a living. she would have been excused if she had chosen to do everything detrimental to her future if she had done otherwise. But she resisted the temptation of bringing shame to herself and her family.

    Today, she is not only celebrated, she also established a life-saving foundation. She evolved the Social Awareness Campaign against Drug Abuse (ASACADA).

    Founder and President Adorable Foundation International (AFI) and Adorable Social Club of Nigeria, Princess Ada Okeke-Amam said the dream was borne out of love and charity. She maintained it was a dream to restore hope to the lost at heart and those who were abandoned to the vicissitudes of life.

    Amam-Okeke said she was left to the mercy of strangers as she walked the straight and narrow paths of the world. According to her, she came to understand the sorrows and pain that life could throw at a person in like situation and the consequent psychological effects.

    “My upbringing was not too good as a youth and I saw a lot of things when growing up, and there might be some youths who might not be able to handle it the way I did. At the end, they might end up in drug abuse and other social vices. Having lost my mother, the major key player in the family, it was taxing,” she said.

    Continuing, she said: “Nothing stopped me from being forced to do one or two abnormal things in the midst of harrowing hardship I found myself in, but I didn’t. I felt going into those things could lead one into a terrible trouble.

    “In the circumstances, I decided to evolve a means of telling the youth my own experiences and how I surmounted them so that they, in turn, will also surmount any unsavoury situation they may find themselves in.

    I decided to evolve this programme, the wake-up call came and I saw it was a good thing. It is a very good thing to fight drug abuse. So, I decided to go into it, and got into it very well.” She added that the healing power of love brought about the birth of Adorable Foundation International and Adorable Social Club.

    The event whose theme was “if you abuse drug, drug will abuse you” was a ‘Talk Show’ designed to give students the opportunity to talk about the harmful effects of drug abuse in the society.

    “It is a talk through which we seek to discover the school that can give us the best, it is how we are going to tackle the menace of hard drugs among the youth”, Amam-Okeke added.

    Out of the 16 secondary schools that registered, about 13 were in attendance; giving a total of about 250 students that would do the talk about drug abuse. Their performances were judged by a panel. Trophies would be awarded to the best schools. In addition, every participating school had a prize to go home with.

    “The adorable foundation was on the streets of Lagos and Abuja during the 2016 campaign but this time around, it decided to bring schools together to have a talk show on how to eradicate drug menace in our society”, she stated.

    Amam-Okeke added that Adorable Foundation has built a strong hold in Lagos, Abuja and Benue, even as she revealed plans to expand the programme to the Southeast. Meanwhile, the Anambra chapter was inaugurated last year.

    There are more to be achieved on the drug issue, though there are challenges. “We have to move on in life. After this, we will be going to schools to ensure we cover more schools in Lagos, East and the FCT”, she said. The event was also to commemorate United Nations International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

    The United Nations’ (UN) International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking falls on June 26 each year to raise awareness of the major problem that illicit drugs present to society. The day is supported by individuals, communities and various organisations all over the world including Nigeria.

    The Project Officer, United Nations Office on Drug and Crime, Harshet Virk who represented the United Nations Organisation (UNO) commended the efforts put in place by the foundation to get the young people to talk about drug issues. She assured the United Nations would continue to lend its support

    “There is a lot of work going on, the government is doing a lot, AFI is also doing a lot, and they should try and engage with the scientific knowledge, and broaden their knowledge. “It is good to see young people involved in this issue, discussing and debating it and getting the right responses. What we really need to do is to talk more about it, the government should try and evolve more programmes”, she stated.

    On whether Nigeria is getting the fight against drug abuse right, Virk said it is hard to say which country is getting it right. She, however, observed there were concerted efforts on the part of the government to really fight the menace.

    Also, the Ministry of Health has done a lot of capacity building. The will is there, the government is making the right efforts to do it but it is a big country, a complicated country. So, these efforts have to continue. Hopefully, we will certainly get it right soon she said.

    The Deputy Superintendent of Narcotics, Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Chizoba Etuka who spoke on behalf of the Commander of Narcotics NDLEA, Lagos State, Adeyemi Kayode said the fight against drug abuse is a fight not for NDLEA alone, adding that it is meant for everybody including the youth, religious leaders, the government, traditional rulers, and everybody in the society.

    According to him, all hands must be on deck to fight drug abuse. He noted that drug abuse had caused a lot of harm to some members of the society but one of the strategies NDLEA has adopted is to go to schools to create awareness on the issue. We have programmes where we go to various schools in Lagos State and even outside the state, enlighten the people, create more awareness on the consequences of drug abuse to the society.

    The method I have discovered today is that we let the students proffer solutions to the problem, rather than imposing it on them.

    “For the youth to tell us about the dangers of drug abuse and what to do to eradicate it is a good move. It is a very good example we have to copy. When the youth say let’s do it this way, it means there is a lot of hope for the society. We have to adopt this method. Once in a while we are going to organise this kind of forum where we will have the students to come and talk and proffer solutions to the problem of drug abuse,” the NDLEA chief said.

    While commending the founder of Adorable Foundation International, Tosin Owolabi, an SS2 student of the Dynamic Landmark College, who was one the participants in the Talk Show, said the foundation had given the students the opportunity to express their views on the matter and also made it possible for the public to be enlightened on what drug abuse is all about.

    “I have learnt a lot about the dangers of drug abuse. I learnt that we should never allow drugs to be our master; it should always be our servant; it should only take care of us, and we should not abuse it,” he said.

    Drug abuse is not only about the hard drugs alone, the licit ones such as alcohol, equally cause severe harm to those who indulge in it excessively. I believe people will desist from it because nobody wants to die early; everybody wants to live long.

    Owolabi said he tried to reach out to the public more so that they would understand what they are into or what it is all about. Those missing things that people usually overlook are very important.

  • International day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking

    International day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking

    There is no argument about the fact that drug abuse and illicit trafficking of substances is a worldwide feeling of discomfort that has a far-reaching consequence because it is fraught with crime, corruption and terrorism. We can observe that Nigeria has the highest consumption of illicit drugs. Due to the invention of new technologies, the production of these drugs has increase which makes them to become very cheap and therefore affordable.

    International day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking is a day set aside to raise awareness to major problems that the unlawful use and distribution of drugs portends for the society.

    The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking serves to draw awareness to the need for action and cooperation in order to achieve a drug-free world.  Illicit drugs and their trafficking pose a large health threat to humanity. Drug problems and dependencies put a great deal of pressure on health care systems and constitute a threat to the safety and well-being of humans all around the globe.

    Long-term drug abuse has been linked to poor general health, contraction of diseases through needle sharing, trouble with the law, poor self-hygiene, alienation from loved ones, psychological illnesses and death from overdose.

    In December 1987, the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was designated by the United Nations. It is celebrated annually on June 26, a symbolic day that commemorates the dismantling of the opium trade in Guangdong. The day also serves as an opportunity for Member Nations to reaffirm their support for UN Conventions that attempt to control the world’s drug supply.

    Drug abuse according to Wikipedia is a patterned use of a drug in which the user consumes the substance in amount or with methods which are harmful to themselves. Drug abuse can also be associated with taking overdose of a drug. Examples of abused drugs include: cocaine, heroin, marijuana, prescription drugs, including opioids.

    Illicit trafficking on the other hand is an illegal trading, selling or dealing in specified goods.

    ‘Health’ is the ongoing theme of the world drug campaign. According to the United Nations report, the value of illegal drugs traded around the world is put at more than $32billion yearly. According to this statistics, we can see that drug abuse and trafficking is a problem and major deterrent to humanity and the wellbeing of the youths in particular.

    The most surprising thing is the increasing number of secondary school and tertiary institution students taken to consuming hard drugs. Other groups of individuals susceptible to drug abuse are drivers, conductors, artists, musicians, etc.

    Considering the biological implications of drug abuse, it is pertinent that we understand not only the injurious effect of substance abuse to our organs, but also to unborn children at the fetal stage. An expectant mother who is taken to drug abuse might be causing more harm than good to her unborn child.

    Psychosocially, drug abuse destroys families progressively; once a member of a family becomes overtly addicted to drug (especially psychedelic drugs), he or she begins to act irrationally. This can prove huge danger for those around them, as there are a plethora of stories of siblings hurting each other due to drug abuse.

    The consequences of drug abuse have been violence, rape, suicide, poor academic performance, poor health condition, school dropout etc. Drug abuse is associated with vices such as cultism, armed robbery, thuggery, etc.

    Conclusively, it is expedient that government (federal and state), and all their policy wonks should begin to not only pass laws to curb the preponderance of drug abuse, but also, to enforce the extant laws on substance abuse.

    Parents are also to play key roles in the educational progress of their children through effective communication with the children and with the help of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and other paraphernalia of government like NAFDAC, NDLEA, and Human right groups. Investing more on technological devices that can enhance the ability to detect hard drug traffickers is also advisable.